Lot
3259 
California Penny Post Co., 1855-59, 5¢ black on buff, impressed on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with printed directive at left, addressed to Messrs. Tandler & Co. in San Francisco, cancelled by blue "Penny Post Co., Sacramento" circular handstamp; soiling and wear, Fine. Scott No. 34LU3a Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE SACRAMENTO CIRCULAR HANDSTAMP IN BLUE.
We offered the other recorded example of the Sacramento circular handstamp in blue in our Sale 45, lot 110, realized $8500 hammer.
Realized: $2,600
Lot
3260
California Penny Post Co., 1855-59, 7¢ vermilion, impressed on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire addressed cancelled by blue "Monterey Cal., Oct 18" cds to San Francisco Cal., printed explanatory ad text at left listing eight cities and towns where service was offered, manuscript "recd from H.S. Goodwin at 12 O.Clock, Ans on the 20th Oct" who was the proprietor of the Penny Post Co.; tiny pinholes and small scuff, slightly reduced at top, Very Fine appearance, ex-Knapp, Meroni, Boker, Hawley, Kuphal, Walske. Scott No. 34LU7 $1,750.
Genuine used examples of this entire are extremely rare with 16 entires reported in the Lyons census in July 2005 Penny Post. Remainders were used to create forged Wells Fargo express usages. One of the fascinating aspects of this issue is that both the Penny Post oval and 3c U.S. stamp were embossed in the same color by George F. Nesbitt.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
3261
City G. & H. Express, sharp strike of blue double-oval handstamp on orange buff cover addressed locally, Very Fine and choice use, ex-Wiltsee. Estimate $500 - 750.
Gahagen & Howe was a city express operating for over one year during 1864 to 1865.
Realized: $650
Lot
3262
Gillpatrick's Express, Steamer "Parthenius.", printed frank on 3¢ green entire to Martinez Cal.; restored at left, Very Fine, WC4243, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. GLL-001 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE GILLPATRICK'S EXPRESS STEAMER "PARTHENIUS" FRANK.
Isaiah W. Gillpatrick advertised that he would run a daily express service through the use of the Steamer "Parthenius". This express provided a service between San Francisco and the river ports of Vallejo, Benicia, Martinez, Black Diamond landing, Pittsburg Landing and Antioch. He also connected inland to the coal mining towns of Somersville, Nortonville and Clayton. He lasted from May 1871 to about July 1872.
Lot
3263
"pr Gregory's Express Mail", endorsement at upper left and Gregory's blue "Paid" lined oval handstamp on blue folded letter datelined "San Francisco March 1st 1852" to New York City, content mentions "The mail for tomorrow's steamer being closed, I avail myself of Gregory's Express…", carried per PMSS Northerner from San Francisco Mar. 2nd to Panama arriving Mar. 18th, across the Isthmus on the new Panama Railroad to Chagres, then by USMSS Empire City Mar. 26th to New York arriving Apr. 4th, "Boyd's City Express Post, Apl 14" oval datestamp and matching "PAID / J.T.B." handstamp, Very Fine and scarce Gregory's and Boyd's conjunctive use, This was the first steamer mail carried on the "Panama Railroad" across the Isthmus. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $450
Lot
3264
Gregory's Express Marysville, blue three-line handstamp and matching "Not Paid" oval on orange buff cover to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "pr. Gregory's Express" and "Paid" at top right that was overstruck by the oval, Very Fine, Census WC1915, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. GRE-117 Estimate $200 - 300.
Joseph Gregory established a very extensive express business beginning in 1850 that lasted until the Spring of 1853. Marysville was his collection hub for the northern mines, from there he carried south to Sacramento and then into San Francisco.
Realized: $240
Lot
3265
Gregory's Express "Pocket Letter Book", unused 1851 gold on black glazed letter book, Thompson & Hitchcock imprint, printed by Nesbitt & Co., with original buff envelope, surface scuff, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $475
Lot
3266
Gregory's, Express Office, San Francisco, blue three-line handstamp and matching "Paid." oval on circa 1851 orange buff cover to Port Richmond N.Y., F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Gregory's Express operated from 1850 until early 1853. Initially Joseph W. Gregory established his express operation between San Francisco and Sacramento and from those two locations pushed into Marysville. He quickly established an east coast operation and extended with use of agents to Hawaii, Europe, Oregon and China. Pressure from Adams & Co. hurt profit and he would dissolve in early 1853, selling assets to Wells Fargo. The "Paid" indicated prepaid postage plus express charges.
Realized: $170
Lot
3267
J.W. Hoag's & Cos. San Francisco & Contra Costa Express, clear strike of double-oval in dark red and matching "Paid" framed handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with red manuscript "Haywards" at top right to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine, WC2165, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. HOA-102 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED STRIKE OF THIS J.W. HOAG'S & COS. SAN FRANCISCO & CONTRA COSTA EXPRESS HANDSTAMP.
Late in 1855, J.W. Hoag, John Bamber and Charles Gable purchased the Contra Costa Express from R.T. Lockwood. In 1856, the also purchased W.F. Herre's Contra Costa Express. This gave them control of the western Contra Costa and Alameda county area. A July 12, 1858 advertisement announced that John Bamber bought our his other partners and would be operating as Bamber & Cos Express.
Realized: $1,700
Lot
3268
The Holladay Overland Mail and Express Company, fancy printed ribbon paid frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by cogwheel fancy cancels duplexed with "San Francisco, Cal. Nov 18" cds to New York N.Y., docketed "Recd Decr. 8th"; edge fault at left, Very Fine appearance, ex-Beals. Thomas No. HLY-001 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
By 1866, Ben Holladay controlled a vast stage and express empire that extended from the Missouri River into Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon. Holladay had eliminated all competing stage and express operations and his empire blocked the movement of express material east for Wells Fargo. On November 1st 1866, Wells Fargo purchased this empire from Holladay that gave them control of virtually all of the major stage lines from the Pacific to the Missouri River.
Realized: $950